约翰·吉尔伯特住院期间，请求医生告诉他手术是否成功，但医生拒绝了。
While John Gilbert was in hospital, he asked his doctor to tell him whether his operation had been successful, but the doctor refused to do so.
第二天，这位病人要求安装一部床头电话。
The following day, the patient asked for a bedside telephone.
当他独处时，他拨打了医院总机，要求与米灵顿医生通话。
When he was alone, he telephoned the hospital exchange and asked for Doctor Millington.
当医生接听电话时，吉尔伯特先生说他正在询问一位病人的情况，一个叫约翰·吉尔伯特的人。
When the doctor answered the phone, Mr. Gilbert said he was inquiring about a certain patient, a Mr. John Gilbert.
他询问吉尔伯特先生的手术是否成功，医生告诉他手术确实成功了。
He asked if Mr. Gilbert's operation had been successful and the doctor told him that it had been.
随后他询问吉尔伯特先生何时可以回家，医生告诉他还需要在医院再住两周。
He then asked when Mr. Gilbert would be allowed to go home and the doctor told him that he would have to stay in hosptial for another two weeks.
随后，米灵顿医生问那位打来电话的人，他是否是这位病人的亲属。
Then Dr. Millington asked the caller if he was a relative of the patient.
"不，"病人回答说，"我就是约翰·吉尔伯特先生。"
'No,' the patient answered, 'I am Mr. John Gilbert.'